Bancroftiana, Number 117 Fall 2000: Nuts and Bolts: Creating a Bancroft Exhibition

Nuts and Bolts: Creating a Bancroft Exhibition

Organizing an exhibition involves a process of collaboration and coordination, bringing together conceptualization, selection, research, interpretation, installation layout and design and other concerns. The principles that guide the organization of library exhibitions are tied to those used within the museum world. While libraries often have different formats than those found within museums, the basic guidelines are the same.

Conceptualization

The curator of an exhibition functions as an intermediary between the artifacts and the eventual viewers of the exhibition, presenting objects within the context of an organized theme. The exhibition, "Looking Backward, Looking Forward: Visions of the Golden State," which opened March 17th, 2000 provided an opportunity to reflect upon the last 150 years of California statehood. The intent was to bring together materials that would demonstrate something about the dreams, aspirations, and achievements of California's citizens. Being selective and looking coherently at a few aspects of California's history was the first challenge in organizing the exhibition. Four events were selected to demonstrate California at different times in its history: The Constitutional Convention (1850), the Panama- Pacific International Exposition (1915), the Golden Gate International Exposition (1939-1940), and California First Days Celebration (1962-1963). Examination of these key events allowed the viewer to look at four periods in the state's evolution and to reflect upon the atmosphere of the various periods to give a sense of where people were socially, politically, and economically at the time as well as where they felt they were moving. "Looking Backward, Looking Forward" pulled from a variety of collections — books, manuscripts, pamphlets, prints, photographs and miscellaneous artifacts to demonstrate its themes.

Exhibit Curator Theresa Salazar and Carola DeRooy complete installation of the exhibition.

"Ancient Lives: The Tebtunis Papyri in Context" allowed The Bancroft Library to exhibit components of the Tebtunis Papyri, the largest collection of Egyptian papyri in the Western Hemisphere. Selected themes in the exhibition explored how these documents, written in Greek, reflected the transmission of literary works as well as information about day to day life in Greco-Roman Egypt. "Mark Twain at Large: His Travels Here and Abroad," used the primary materials in the Mark Twain Papers to document Twain's travels and shed light on the composition and revision of his many travel books, from Roughing It to Following the Equator . The goal of the curator is to cull through a variety of materials to select the pieces that will best demonstrate the thematic focus of the exhibition.

Selection and deselection

The review of materials involves a purposeful look at a what is often a storehouse of material in order to help refine the concept, and alter it if need be. The objects selected should appropriately illustrate the exhibition's themes. Objects are not only looked at for their content or how well they tell the story of the particular section of the exhibition, but also for their visual impact. This is particularly a concern with library exhibitions, where key items that are written or printed must be balanced with more visually engaging images. Reading an inordinate amount of text documents is taxing on the viewer. The curator must also examine the physical qualities of an object. Condition is key, as a piece in poor condition will often preclude its being included, no matter how well it illustrates a point. The size must be taken into account, (e.g., will it fit well in the case, not overwhelm other objects). It is important not to overcrowd items in illustrating a point less is often more. Extraneous items that do not reinforce or illustrate the theme should be eliminated. Each section should have some visual highpoints, gems to attract attention.

Tracking items

Items in an exhibition must be tracked. At the Bancroft Library, the curator in coordination with staff in public services, technical services, and conservation performs this role. This tracking goes beyond a simple checklist of items in the exhibition. In a Library for instance where there are researchers who may need to consult the material on display, these items must be checked out so they can be located. The person performing these duties often notes condition of objects, and in the case of the Bancroft Library, if we need to consult with conservation staff, we bring them in to look at objects and perform conservation treatment. Particular challenges or questions in terms of installation will also be discussed with conservation staff.

After the items are selected, the final checklist and interpretive text are prepared. The curator and curatorial assistant research the theme, as well as the specific objects in the exhibit, unifying in the discussion the concept and the objects. Introductory panels and labels indicate to the viewer the approach to the themes. There are different philosophies about the use of interpretative labels in an exhibition. Ultimately, the intent is to provide an interesting, clear, and concise examination, taking into consideration the intended audience being addressed. Sometimes, an exhibition catalog will be produced, and as a more permanent record of an exhibit, it must be carefully edited and designed. General signage is important to indicate the sequencing within the exhibition and to suggest direction or negotiation through the physical space of the exhibition.

Fabrication and installation

Having the measurements for the cases and executing a preliminary layout to ensure that the space can accommodate the pieces is key. Items that require matting, framing, cradles or other props for display must be dealt with. Lighting of the exhibition is considered from two points of view. Since light is damaging to most objects, particularly photographic and other pictorial material, light levels are monitored. However, the lighting must also be used effectively to highlight the different objects in the exhibition. Strategically placing items within the exhibition cases is a true art. Objects are there to tell a story; however, this must be balanced with the esthetics of presentation. Ideally the two come together making an attractive and informative display.

—Theresa Salazar, Curator,
Bancroft Collection of Western Americana